Football: Exit Old Big 'Ead

Ipswich Town . . . .2

Nottingham Forest. .1

IF FRED REACHER gets his wish, there will be a new name on Brian Clough's door by the end of the week. And possibly new locks too.

The Forest chairman has stuck rigidly to his script and blamed Chris Wootton, the suspended director, during the previous week of turmoil at the City Ground but it is fair to assume that Old Big 'Ead's last stand has not had him rocking with laughter. How do you explain to a prospective new manager that the old one might not actually leave?

That absurd possibility having been laid to rest, a swift appointment must follow, as there is much clearing up to be done in Clough's wake.

If Forest, in their hearts, wanted to give Clough a send off to match the emotion of the occasion, their heads and feet rarely looked likely to do so. Ipswich, in their spectacular decline, had won only once in 15 matches before yesterday, but they were good enough this time.

However, if Forest played at times as if they knew not whether they were coming or going, the reason may be that several of them do not, literally. Roy Keane's future almost certainly lies elsewhere, but Clough Junior and the injured Stuart Pearce may yet stay put. A persuasive new boss might make all the difference.

Nigel gave his dad some hope of a better finale yesterday when he converted a 64th minute penalty. This inspired Forest to dredge some fight from beneath the dispirited weariness of their earlier play but chances for Keane, Clough and Ian Woan passed by unconverted.

In any case, Ipswich by then had established a two-goal cushion that would ensure that results elsewhere and the resulting possibility of relegation would not concern them.

Simon Milton put them ahead with a low, true 25-yarder five minutes before half-time and Steve Whitton added the second from the spot soon after the interval after Carl Tiler bundled down Chris Kiwomya.

Ipswich Town: A Petterson; E Youds, G Johnson (P Whelan, 45 min), M Stockwell, J Wark, D Linighan, G Williams, S Whitton (S Palmer, 76min), S Milton, J Dozzell, C Kiwomya. Sub not used: J Winters (gk). Manager: M McGiven.

Nottingham Forest: A Marriott; B Laws, B Williams, S Chettle, C Tiler, R Keane, K Black (T Orlygsson, 71 min), S Gemmill, N Clough, L Glover, I Woan. Subs not used: S Stone, M Crossley (gk). Manager: B Clough .

Referee: M Reed (Birmingham).

Goals: Milton (1-0, 40 min), Whitton pen (2-0, 52min), Clough pen (2-1, 64 min).